Lying To Your Boss About Having COVID-19 Can Get You Arrested By The FBI

By Bill GalluccioMay 22, 2020

A Georgia man is serving as a cautionary tale for those who might consider lying to their employer about getting COVID-19 to get out of work. Santwon Antonio Davis is facing federal charges for defrauding his employer after the FBI accused him of faking a medical letter that claimed he was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Davis worked for a Fortune 500 company, and when his bosses learned he had contracted COVID-19, they shut down the offices so they could be cleaned and disinfected. The company continued to pay its employees, and some of them had to be go into a two-week quarantine. Those measures cost the company more than $100,000.

“The defendant caused unnecessary economic loss to his employer and distress to his coworkers and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “We will take quick action through the Georgia COVID-19 Task Force to put a stop to criminals preying on Georgia companies and the public with Coronavirus-related fraud schemes.”